Gamification vs Game-Based Learning?
Intro
Since this is my first writing in a long time, I believe it’s important to reintroduce myself.
I am Aflacha Rachmata; people often call me Falah or Val. I bring with me a wealth of experience in the field of educational technology. I started my professional career as a web front-end programmer in 2013, and not long after that, I transitioned into a Project Manager role in the same company. In July 2015, I embarked on a freelancing journey, and in December 2015, I shifted my career to game development. I have worked on numerous game projects, including several edu-games. In early 2019, I joined an Edu-game start-up company as Lead Game Designer. Currently, I am the co-founder of Artelysium Studio, a creative company that produces comics, games, and illustrations.
I think that’s enough about me. If anything you’d like to know more about, just hit me on social media. I’ll be happy to respond and connect!
Changes in Education
For the last decade, there has been a significant change in education media or even methods: We have started using technology more often in formal and informal education. In formal education, we sometimes use it inside class, like teachers using digital material to explain to their students. Students are openly allowed to search for specific topics or learn the material online. Some of them use games. And one of the most engaging applications of technology in education is Gamification and Game-Based Learning. Of course, who doesn’t like games, right? Most people, especially students, like playing games. They’re fun, engaging, and rewarding. Make them feel special and gratified when achieving something.
Both are great methods to use in education to keep learners engaged, but people often mistakenly address Game-Based Learning as Gamification, and vice versa, or even think they are the same thing. I have encountered so many people with that kind of understanding.
So, what are Gamification and Game-Based Learning? What makes them different? Here is what’s on my mind about them.
Game-Based Learning
For the simplest definition, GBL or Game-Based Learning utilizes games to teach students/players some knowledge and skills. This method aims to make the players learn specific knowledge or skills while immersing them in a fun and engaging game. This kind of method is quite adequate, especially for kids. Everyone knows that kids love games!
But it’s not as easy as many people think to make GBL. Many people ended up making a game that presented the learning materials as quizzes, simple interactions with a lack of meaning, and the list continued. (I made a few of these in the past; please don’t ki*ll me). Creating effective GBL experiences requires a deep understanding of the subject matter, game design principles, and the learning needs of the target audience. It’s a delicate balance between fun and educational content.
One of the best examples of game-based learning applications is using Minecraft: Education Edition. Kids love Minecraft, right? And they use what kids love to learn something. They can learn math, sciences, and even, guess what, history! For example, in a history lesson, students can explore historical landmarks and events in the game, which makes so-called boring subjects such as history a fun-engaging experience. This is the brilliant implementation of Game-Based Learning.
Gamification
Gamification, on the other hand, does not directly involve any game. It uses certain game elements like rewards, levelling, points, and others for specific purposes, primarily for Human Resources training. Have you ever known that in your workplace or in Krabby Patty on SpongeBob Series, there is a mechanism called Employee of the Month? Yep, it’s one of the simplest examples of gamification implementation. Imagine the possibilities of applying this in your own workplace!
Nowadays, mobile apps can include some gamification. For example, in some ride-sharing or food delivery services, you can collect points from your order and trade them for a discount coupon.
Long story short, gamification is using game elements for non-game purposes. If you use it inside the game, it is no longer called gamification; it’s a game.
Head-to-head Comparison
We have discovered GBL and Gamification and got a glimpse of their differences. To my knowledge, here are the clearer differences between them.
Gamification takes a more holistic approach
Gamification uses one or several game elements, such as giving a learner a badge when completing an activity or receiving high marks, while Game-Based Learning uses certain game(s) for a certain goal, like what I mentioned above, using Minecraft to learn history.
Game-Based Learning takes a more specific goal
Game-based Learning has a more specific goal, like learning history in Minecraft or how to build a city (more or less) by playing Cities: Skyline.
Gamification relies more on rewards to provide feedback to learners
Gamification offers more solid rewards. If employees earn the highest badge, they get the title Employee of the Month and a salary bonus or even a raise. Meanwhile, Game-Based Learning relies more on the experience of how engaging the game is to learn certain topics.
One thing that GBL and Gamification have in common is that learners/users/players must be actively involved in the activity to fulfil their intended purposes.
Conclusion
We have discovered the technical differences between them and how to use them. Both can be used for schools and offices. There is no such thing as one being better than another in general, but it is more like one is better to use in a specific condition and vice versa. And to do that, we need to know the differences between them to use them to their potential.
